Flying saw



Feb. 13, 1934. J, M BARTN '1,946,926

LYING -SAW 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 s INVENTdR o m/f. 777. 4mm-mw z f XM. i mi?. @my

J. M. BARTON Feb. 13, 1934.

FLYING. -SAW Filed Feb. 24, 1951 -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN-ron WITNESSES Feb- 13f 1934- J. M. BARTON 1,946,926

FLYING sAw Filed Feb. 24, 1931 s sheets-sheet 3 vhrNEssE INITOR fw; @fwd awww Patented Febr v13.1934

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE d Moon Tube Company,

Inv, Butler, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania y Application February 24, 1931. Serial No. 517,852

K 1 Claim '(Cl.' 25569)' This invention relates, generally. to apparatus for cutting to predetermined lengths continuously moving tubing and particularly to means for synchronizing the movement `of a tubing severing 5 device with the moving tubing.

, In`the manufacture of tubing by a continuous process it is desirable to cut it to suitable commer# cial lengths soon after it is formed, and. in order to save space and time, the tubing should be cut off just as it issues from the mill. inasmuch as it is very inconvenient, if not impracticable, to stop the mill each time a. length of tubing is cut 0E, the cutting operation is performed while the tubing is moving longitudinally at its normal rate 3f advance.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a severing device that will function automatically to cut continuously moving tubing to predetermined lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for measuring the relative velocity of the severing device and the-tubing to be cut at the point at which the severing device is to engage the tubing. y l

A further object of the invention is to provide means for synchronizing the severing device with the tubing at a time other than when the severing device is in engagement with the tubing to be cut.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, I utilize a severing device known as a iiying hot saw that is provided withy driving mechanism for moving the saw -parallel with the direction of motion of the tubing and for simultaneously tilting it laterally into cutting engagement with the tubing..

cause the severing device to go through the eutting cycle. That the saw may move parallel 4with the tubing at the speed at which the tubing is advancing during the cuttingoperation, suitable indicating devicesc: tachometers are provided for measuring the speed of the tubing and the speed at which the saw engages it. The

tachometers are connected t6 an indicating in` strument which shows directly the relative speed of the tubing and the saw. Wellfknown regulating devices are provided for changingthe speed of movement of the saw or the speed of the advancing tubing to synchronize them in accordance with the showing of the instrument for determining their relative speed.

The foregoing and other objects,which will be.-

come apparent upon reading this specication in commotion with the accompanying drawings, may bev achieved by means of the particular apparatus shown in the various figures, of which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a tube severing device e0 embodying' myinventiom Fig. 2 a view in front elevation of the tube severing device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 an enlarged view partly in end elevation and partly in cross-section taken on the plane representedby the line III-III in Fig. 5 e5 and showing the means for moving the severing device laterally into contact with the tubing: Fig. 4 a plan view partly in section taken on the plane represented by the line IV-IV of Fig. 3,

Y and showing dlagrammatically the cam and iolto lower for moving the saw laterally; Fig. 5 a view. partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, taken on the plane represented by the line V-V of Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 a diagram of the electrical control circuit utilized in conjunction with the severing device.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. the tube severing device shown comprises a supporting framework or base l disposed parallel with and adjacent to the center line of pass so (indicated by the broken line 2) of a mill for forming tubingV by a continuous process. The upper surface of the base 1 is provided with parallel rails 3 disposed to support a longitudinally movable saw carriage 4 having rail engaging sa wheels 5. The carriage 4 is for movably supporting a severing device or rotary hot saw. 6 mounted on the end of an armature shaft '1 of a suitable electric motor 8. The 'motor 8 and the directly connected saw 6 are disposed on the carriage 4 with the armature shaft 7 parallel with the line of pass 2. To provide for moving the saw,6 laterally across the line of pass 2 to' cut through the tubing the motor 8 is pivotally mounted on the carriage 4 by means of`trunlons 95 or bearing lugs 9 which are rotatably mounted -or journaled on ashafty 11 secured in the carjriage 4 andvdisposed parallel with the armature the saw is cuttingy through the tubing. The vmechanism for moving the carriage landthe saw 6 longitudinally comprises a connecting rod 15 journaled on a gudgeon pin 16 in a backet. 17 at one end of the carriage 4. At its other end the connecting rod 15 is journaled on a crank 110 pm 1s constituting pm er a crank' is `carried on the end of aY transverse shaft 2 0`ofa worm gear speed reducing mechanism 21. The speed reducingmechanism 21 is operated by a shaft 22 which 'may be connected to an electric driving motor 23 .by means of a magnetic clutch 24. A magnetic brake 25 is provided for holding the shaft 22 stationary during the time that the clutch 24 is not engaged.

In performing a cutting operation, the mechanism is placed in the -position shown in Figs. 1 f and 2 with the motor 8 on the lsaw 6 operating at its normal speed and with the motor 23 .operated at a predetermined speed toA enable it to move ltlie carriage 4 parallel to theline ofpass 2 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of the tubing to be cut. When a predetermined length of tubing has advanced past the saw 6, its end engages a flag switch 26 disposed at a predetermined position in the line of pass 2 for the purpose of initiatingthe\ cutting operation at the =proper timeto cut the tubing to the desired lengths. 4When the ag switch 26 is actuated it causes the magnetic brake 25 to be released and the magnetic clutch 24 to be engaged by means of a control system, presently to bey explained, to'y connect the motor 23 to the shaft 22 for actuating the speed reducing mechanism 21.

.As may be seen from the drawings, when the speed reducing mechanism 21 is actuated the crank 19 draws the carriage 4 forwardly by means of the connecting rod as it turns through the first half of a revolution and, during the second half of the revolution, the carriage 4 is returned to its initial position. At this point a limit switch 27, voperatively connected vto the transverse shaft of the speed reducing mechanism 21, functions through the control system to disengage the clutch 24 and to engage the brake for stoppingl the device. As shown, motor 23 and speed vreducing mechanism 21 are 'preferably mounted on a rigid base 28.

To cause the saw 6 to move laterally vacross the line of pass 2 at the proper time during the forwardmotion -of the carriage 4; a stationary cam 31 is provided within the base 1 and beneath the carriage 4 for engaging a cam follower or roller 32 on the end of an arm 33 depending from the carriage 4. As best shown in Figs.

"3 and 5, the arm 33'is journaled near its upper end on Vthe longitudinal shaft 11 in the carriage i V,se

4 between the lugs 9 which support the motor 8 on this shaft. As shown in Fig. 3,the motor 3 is held in its normal upright position by an arm 35 extending laterally from the motorbase, and is held in engagement with a stop member 38 'oy means of a compression spring 37, The. upper end -of the pivotedarm 33 is provided with an extending portion for engaging a depending lug 38 on the base of the motor8 in suchmanner thatthe arm 33 may be utilized to tilt the' motor 3 and saw 6" laterally across the lineof pass 2 against the 'resistance `of the compression` spring 37.

shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, the-cam follower 32 at the lower end of the arm'33 is inl the position indicated at A relative to the stationary cam 31 when the'apparatus is in its normal stationary position shown in Figs. l a'nd 2. When the `carriage 4 moves forwardly during the rst portion of the cutting cycle, the follower 32 moves along the path indicatedby the broken ciently far to bring the carriage 4 to a speed substantially equal to the speed of the tubing to be cut, the cam follower 32 arrives'at position B and engages a sloping face 42 of the cam 31. The cam follower 32 is deflected to the right.vas shown in Figs. 3 and 4, by the sloping face 42 of the cam 31 as it follows the line 41 from position B to position C.

. Asthe cam follower 32 moves to position C (Fig. 3) the arm 33 and the motor 8 assumes the tilted position'shown by the dotted lines, and the saw 6 moves across the line of pass 2. While the cam follower 32 is moving from position B to position C, carriage 4 continues to move at a speed closely approximating that of the advance of the The tubing to be cut is carried in a V-shaped guide or trough 43 on the carriage 4, as indicated by the reference .character T in Figs. 3 and 5.' inasmuch as the saw 6 and the tubing T are movinglongitudinally at equal speeds, the saw 6 cuts through the tubing as vso v it is tilted across the line of pass 2 in the same manner as it would if the tubing were stationary and the saw not moving longitudinally.

After arriving at the position C, the cam follower 32`slips off the end of the cam 31, and

the spring 37 returns the saw 6 to its inactive position for the remainder of the stroke. After the follower 32 becomes disengaged from the cam 31,-the speed of carriageV 4 is reduced by reason 'of the fact that the crank 19 is approaching its dead center position opposite to the position shown in Figs. l and 2, and the cam follower 32 nnally-comesto rest momentarily at the position D at the end of the stroke.

During the return stroke it isdesirable that the motor 8 be held in its uprightposition without being influenced by the stationary cam 31. Toaccomplish this theside of the cam 31 opposite to thejsloping face 42 is provided with a somewhat abrupt sloping faceA 45, which engages the cam follower 32 as it moves along a return vpath 43 and deects it to the left to position E during the return stroke. As shown in Fig. 3, when the follower 32 moves to the position E the arm 33 turns on the shaft 11 in such direc-v tion as to move its upper end out of engagement with the lug 38 on the motor 8, and consequently the motor remains in 'its upright position with the -arm35 held in contact with the stop 36 by the spring 3'?- During the last portion of thev stroke the cam follower 32 moves from position E to its initial position A as the crank 19 is brought to a stop at the dead center position by the limit switch 27. Y

The control system connecting the limit switch 27 and the flag switch 23 to the magnetic brake 25- and the magnetic clutch 24 is shown in detail in Fig. 6. In the lower portion ofthe diagram are shown actuating coils which represent, respectively, the magnetic clutch 24 and the magnetic brake 25. The clutch 24 and the brake 25 are disposed vto be connected alternatelyfor enl ergization across a power source, represented by line conductors 1.-1 and L2, by means of a double-throw electrically operated switch 5l. When the mechanism is in Vthe position of rest shown in Figs. 1 and 2, clutch 24 is deenergi'zed and disengaged, and the brake 25 is held on by reason ofthe fact that its actuating coil is en-` ergised through a circuit that may be traced from the line conductor L-l througha conduclinel 41 in Fig. 4, during which time the arm 33, tor vr52 to 'contact members 53 Pwhich areclosed motor 3 and saw 6.y remain in the upright vposition.v By the time the crank 19 has turned $111#- ythe switch'i, thence through the actuating coll of the brake V25- to the line conductor L-2.

To start the cutting cycle, it is necessary to energize the actuating coil of the switch 51 to move it in such manner that it will become disengaged from the contact members 53, thereby opening the circuit through the actuating coil of the brake 25, and that it will engage another pair of contact members 54 for establishing a circuit through the actuating coil of the clutch 24. The circuit through the clutch 24 may then be traced from line conductor L-l through a conductor 55, the

n contact members 54 bridged by the switch 51,

the actuating coil of the clutch 24, and thence to the line conductor L2.

To initiate the cutting cycle, the actuating coil of the switch 51 may be energized by means of a relay 56 having lower contact members 57l which establish a circuit, when bridged, that may be traced from the line conductor L-l through a conductor 58, the bridged contact members 57, conductor 59, the actuating coil of the switch 51, and thence through a conductor 61 to line conductor L'-2. The initiation of the cutting cycle maybe'effected manually by means of a push button switch` 62, which establishes an energizing circuit through the actuating coil-of the relay 56 that may be traced from the line conductor L--l through a conductor 63, the switch 62, a conductorv 64, the actuating coil of the relay 56, and thence through a conductor 65 to the line conductor L-2. It is clear that when the switch 62 is closed therelay 56 is energized and closed to bridge the contact members 57 to in turn establish a circuit through the actuating coil of the switch 51 and move it upwardly to deenergize the brake 25 and energize thev clutch After the cycle is started, vthe push button switch 62 is held closed until the cam limit switch 27 (a development of which'is shown in the upper portion of the diagram) turns to a position in which a contact segment 67 bridges contact members 68 and establishes an independent circuit through the actuating coil of the switch 51 that may be traced back from the line conductor L-2 through conductor 61, the actuating coil of the switch 51, conductorj59, thence by a conductor 69 to the` contact -members 68 -bridged by the segment 67, and thence by conductors 71, 72 and 73 to the line conductor L-l. If the relay 56 is now deenergized as by releasing the push button 62 it will drop out `and open the circuit through the contact members 57, but the actuating coil of the switch 51 remains energized by reason of the circuit established through the segment 67 o f the limit switch 27.

After the crank 19 has completed one revolution, during which the carriage 4 has made a forward and areturn'stroke and theA tubing T has been'severed by the saw 6, the limit switch 27 will be turned to a. position in which the vcontact segment 67 becomes disengaged from the contact members 68, thereby opening the circuit through the holding coil of the switch 51.

The switch 51 will then drop `to the position.-

27 bridge cooperating contact members 77y and- 78, respectively, for establishing circuits to enable the outing cycle to be initiated automatically by the flag switch 26. As shown in the diagram, when the mechanism is ready for automatic operation the ag switch 26 is in its upper or clear position.

When in the upper position the 'ag switch 26 establishes'a circuit that may be traced from the line conductor L--l through a conductor 81, the ag switch 26, a conductor 82, the actuating coil of an interlocking relay 83, thence by a conductor 84 to the contact members 77 bridged by the segment 75 and a conductor 85 to the line conductorV L-2. As soon as the relay 83 is energized by reason-.of the ag switch 26 moving to its clear position, and the segment 75 being in position to bridge the contact members 77, the relay 83 closes and establishes a holding circuit by means of its upper contact members 86 that may be traced from the line conductor L-l through the conductor 73, a conductor,

the line of`pass 2 that it is engaged by they end of the tubing T when a .predetermined length o f tubing has passed the saw 6. When the ag switch 26 is engaged it is'movedby the tubing to its lower position, as seen in Fig. 6, to establish a circuit similar in function to that established by the push button switch 62. This circuit may be traced from the line conductor L-,l through the conductor 81, the ag switch 26, and a conductor 91, to lower contact members 92 bridged by the closed, relay 83, thence by a conductor 93 to the conductor 64, the actuating coil of the relay 56, and thenceby conductor 65 to the line conductor L-2. As explained with regard to the circuit established by the push button 62, the relay 56 when energized establishes a circuit that energizes the actuating coil ofthe switch 51 and causes the switch 51 to deenergize the brake 25 and energize the clutch 24 to start the cutting cycle.

As soon ast-he relay 56 is energized it establishes a holding circuit that may be traced from the line conductor L-2 through conductor 65. the actuating coil of the relay 56, conductor 64, and a conductor 94 that connects to one of the upper contact members 95 of the relay 56, through the relay 56 to the other contact mem- Vber 95, thence byl a conductor 96 to the contact members 78 bridged by the contact segment 76 of the limit switch 27, and thence by conductors 72 and 73 to line conductor L1. The

relays 83 and 56 are now both held closed by holding circuits -which pass through the contact segments 75 and. 76, respectively, of the Y limit switch 27, and are no longer in any way affected by the flag switch 26. Hence the subsequent operation ofthe mechanism is the same regardless of whether the ag switch 26 is held 'down continuously or is permitted to return to its upper clear position.

Ms the cycle progresses and the limit switchl 27 turns with the crank 19, its lower contact when the limit switch 27 has turned to such poilu sition that the contact segments75 and 76 become disengaged from the contact members 77 and 78,

respectively, the holding circuits for the relays 83 and 56 will be broken, and both of the relays will drop out to their open positions. As Vthe cycle is` continued until stopped by reason of the contact segment 67 becoming disengaged from 'the contact members 68, the contact segments 75 and 76 will again engage the contact members 77 and 78 at the end of the cycle. However, no circuit will be established inasmuch as the relays 83 and 56 are both open and the flag switch 26 s still depressed to `its lower position by the piece of tubingwhich has just been cut oi by-the saw 6.

ii'orJ the relay 56 to close, it isnecessary that the relay 83 be closed rst to establish an energizing circuit through the contact members 92, and to close the relay 83 the switch 26 must iirst move to the upper position and make contact with the conductor 82. Consequently the mechanism remains stationary in spite of the fact that the nag switch 26 is depressed to its lower position.

As soon as the severed piece of tubing has been removed, the flag switch 26 is returned to its clear or raised position by the spring 97 and establishes what may beI termed the ready circuit from line conductor L-l through conductor 81, switch27, conductor 82, the actuating coil 0i the relay 83, conductor 84, contact members 77, and conductor 85 to line conductor L-2. The relay 83 is then closed and held in the closed position by its holding circuit through the contact members 86 independently of the circuit through the flag switch 26, as hereinbefore explained. Withethe relay 83 thus closed and held. its lower contactmembers 92 are bridged and Vthe system is in condition to perform another cutting cycle automaticadlly as soon'as the tubing has advanced to such position that its end engages the iiag switch 26 and moves it to its lower or closed position.

It is apparent that, in order to operate eiecltively, the mechanism must be adjusted to move the saw 6 longitudinally during the cutting strokel at a speed closely approximating the speed of advance of the tubing T. To determine in advancewhether or not the longitudinal speed of the saw will be correct, I pgovide means for measurng the speed of advance oi' the'tubing T`as it comes from the last rolls 101.0! the mill, and also provide means for measuring the speed of rotation of the armature of the motor 23 for driv'- ing the mechanism that moves the saw carriage 4 to determine the speed oi.' thecarriage when `it moves through the cutting zone.

VAs shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a. tachometer 102, preferably of the electrical type, is disposed adjacent to the rolls 101 and engages the moving tubing as it issues from the rolls to'measure its speed. A second electrical tachometer 103 is operatively connected to of the motor 23 and is responsive to the speed of the motor. Both the tachometer102 and the tachometer 103 are connected differentially to a speed indicating instrument 104 in such manner that when either tachometer is operated alone the indication of the instrument 104 represents the speed ofthe device to which the tachometer is connected. However, if both tachometers are operated at once the instrument 104 indicates thel difference in the speeds recorded by them. Consequently whentubing is issuing from the rolls 101 and the motor -23 is stationary the instrument 104 indi. cates the speed of advance of the tubing T. But when the motor 23 is started the instrument 104 then indicates the difference between the speed of advance ci the tubing T and the speed at which the saw carriage 4 is moved by the motor 23 during the cutting stroke. Inasmuch as the speed ofthe saw carriage .4 should equal the speed of the tubing yT during the cutting operation or, in

other words, theirrelative speed should be zero, it is simply necessary vto so regulate the speed of the motor 23 or the speed of the rolls 101 that the differential speed indicating instrument 104 indicates zero to effect the proper speed relation between the saw and the tubing. To accomplish the synchronization of the advancing tubing T and the saw carriage 4, suitable`control devices, such as rheostats 105 and 106, are connected in any well known manner, not shown, to control the speed of the motor 23 and the speed of the rolls 101 respectively. For convenience in oper` ation, the rheostats l05'and 106 and the difierential speed indicator 104 may be mounted on a control panel, not shown, in such manner that the instrument 104 may be observed while manipulating the rheostats.

From the foregoing description and explanation of the functioning of a specific device embodying my invention, it is apparent that I have provided a rugged andetective apparatus for automatically cutting continuously moving tubing to predetermined lengths, and an apparatus' which is adapted to be readily regulated to conform with the speed of the advancing tubing.

Although I have shown and described only one specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to others skilled in the art to which this device belongs that various modifications may be made in the driving mechanism and other details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as dened in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A flying saw comprising a carriage, a motor for moving the carriage, a magnetic clutch disposed to connect the motor to the carriage, a magnetic brake connected to stop the carriage, a tubing guide .disposed parallel to ,the direction of motion of the carriage, means for indicating the relative speeds of the carriage and of tubing in the guide, means for regulating the motor to synchronize the carriage with the tubing, a saw tubing, and a control system coordinated with the carriage-moving means for releasing the brake and engaging the clutch to cause the carriage to move and the saw to cut the tubing, said control system operating to so actuate the saw that the tubing is cut to predetermined lengths.

JAMES M. BARTONJ 

